Open letter to Vladimir Putin: your invasion of Ukraine was a heinous war of aggression

By Roger Waters
Recently I have been reading comments on social media, asking why I’ve written to Mrs Olena Zelenska but not Mr Vladimir Putin? Very good question, I’m glad you asked, here it is.
An open Letter to Vladimir Putin:
Dear President Putin, since the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine on February 24th this year I have tried to use my small influence to encourage a ceasefire and a diplomatic settlement that addresses the security needs of both Ukraine and The Russian Federation.
In that endeavor I have written two open letters (click here, here) to Mrs Olena Zelenska the the wife of the Ukrainian President. These letters are readily available on the internet. I am increasingly asked to write to you too, so here goes.
Firstly, would you like to see an end to this war? If you were to reply and say, “Yes please.” That would immediately make things a lot easier. If you were to come out and say, “Also the Russian Federation has no further territorial interest beyond the security of the Russian speaking populations of The Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk.”
That would help too.
I say this because, I know some people who think you want to overrun the whole of Europe, starting with Poland and the rest of the Baltic states.
If you do, f**k you, and we might as well all stop playing the desperately dangerous game of nuclear chicken that the hawks on both sides of the Atlantic seem so comfortable with, and have at it. Yup, just blow each other and the world to smithereens. The problem is, I have kids and grandkids, and so do most of my brothers and sisters all over the world and none of us would relish that outcome. So, please Mr Putin indulge me, and make us that assurance.
Alright back to the table, if I’ve read your previous speeches correctly, you would like to negotiate a state of neutrality for a sovereign neighboring Ukraine? Is that correct? Assuming such a peace could be negotiated it would have to include an absolutely binding agreement not to invade anyone ever again. I know, I know, the USA and NATO invade other sovereign countries at the drop of a hat, or for a few barrels of oil, but that doesn’t mean you should, your invasion of Ukraine took me completely by surprise, it was a heinous war of aggression, provoked or not.
When Mrs Zelenska replied to me via Twitter, I was very surprised and mightily moved, if you were to reply to me, I would mightily respect you for it, and take it as an honorable move in the right direction towards a sustainable peace.
---
Roger Waters is a musician

Comments

Dr,Suhas Kolhekar,Virologist,Health Activist for Social and Climate Justice. said…

Yes I would add to this letter....Dear Mr.Putin,Russia and India were supposed to be friends but with your aggression and threats of use of Nuclear weapons,we the common people around the world not just India, are shocked and disappointed with you All...you Mr.Putin and Mr.Biden both.Do we need to remind you both of Mahatma Gandhiji's precious message..."Peace is the way..."?so You announce ,"Stop to the War" and we the Civil society of the world shall compail Mr. Biden,the President of USA,and key person in NATO, follow you in this Crucial decision.So.thus you win without the War...You win place in the Hearts of world's communities...Peoples' Hearts...What else do you want?....Dr.Suhas Kolhekar,Citizan,India ...Health Rights,Social Justice and Anti-Nuclear activist.

10 October 2022 at 19:36

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